The nine-day Navratri festival at the Vaishno Devi shrine began with Shat Chandi Maha Yagya and the chanting of Vedic hymns along with other rituals organized by the Vaishno Devi shrine board amid tight security measures and strict Covid guidelines.
The ‘Maha Yagya’, which takes place at the sacred cave shrine located in the Trikuta Hills in Katra City of Reasi District of Jammu Division for the Peace, Prosperity and Health of Mankind, will conclude with Purna Ahuti on Mahanavami or the ninth day of the Navratri festival. .
Ramesh Kumar, Executive Director of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Other officials from the board and a large number of pilgrims were present on the occasion. The Shat Chandi Maha Yagya will be broadcast on television from 12:30 to 13:30 every day during the Navratri festival.
It is pertinent to mention that, as in the past, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji’s ‘Bhawan’, ‘Atka’ and the area around it have been lavishly decorated with flowers during Navratri. The sanctuary board has also made elaborate arrangements to assist large numbers of pilgrims who are expected to pay homage in the sanctum sanctorum during Navratri.
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These arrangements include ensuring 24-hour power and water supply along the roads leading to the shrine, sanitation and the availability of special foods made for devotees, etc. Additionally, all the routes leading to the sacred cave sanctuary have been repaired for a fluid pilgrim movement.
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The executive director of the sanctuary board interacted with several pilgrims and received their comments on the arrangements. An official said that nearly 7000 pilgrims came to Katra on the first day of the festival for ‘darshan’ at the cave shrine.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Jammu Division Commissioner Sanjeev Verma opened the festival in the city of Katra.
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